{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-json\/15.2-3810.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-text\/15.2-3810.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-xml\/15.2-3810.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-html\/15.2-3810.html"}],"law_id":348320,"edition_id":2,"section_id":348320,"structure_id":49959,"section_number":"15.2-3810","catch_line":"Declining of grant of city status","history":"1979, c. 85, \u00a7 15.1-982.11; 1997, c. 587.","full_text":"In any proceeding brought under this chapter, the town council may, by ordinance or resolution, decline to accept city status on the terms and conditions imposed by the court at any time prior to twenty-one days after final adjudication establishing city status. In such case the court shall apportion the total costs, taking into consideration the extent to which county revenues are derived from within the town, the relative financial abilities of the parties, and the relative merits of the case.\n\n","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":1298869,"text":"In any proceeding brought under this chapter, the town council may, by ordinance or resolution, decline to accept city status on the terms and conditions imposed by the court at any time prior to twenty-one days after final adjudication establishing city status. In such case the court shall apportion the total costs, taking into consideration the extent to which county revenues are derived from within the town, the relative financial abilities of the parties, and the relative merits of the case.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1}},"ancestry":[{"id":49959,"edition_id":2,"name":"Transition of Towns to Cities","identifier":"38","label":"chapter","depth":3,"order_by":9,"parent_id":49941,"metadata":{"child_laws":35,"child_structures":0},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:18:55","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:29:47","permalink":{"id":1384559,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":49959,"identifier":"38","token":"15.2\/III\/38","url":"\/15.2\/III\/38\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":49941,"edition_id":2,"name":"Boundary Adjustments and Changes of Status of Counties, Cities and Towns","identifier":"III","label":"subtitle","depth":2,"order_by":3,"parent_id":49831,"metadata":{"child_laws":234,"child_structures":20},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:18:37","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:29:43","permalink":{"id":1383921,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":49941,"identifier":"III","token":"15.2\/III","url":"\/15.2\/III\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":49831,"edition_id":2,"name":"Counties, Cities and Towns","identifier":"15.2","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":46,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{"child_laws":2297,"child_structures":225},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:16:22","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:29:22","permalink":{"id":1378281,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":49831,"identifier":"15.2","token":"15.2","url":"\/15.2\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":348310,"structure_id":49959,"section_number":"15.2-3800","catch_line":"Ordinance petitioning court for city status; appointment of special court","url":"\/15.2-3800\/","token":"15.2\/III\/38\/15.2-3800","metadata":false},{"id":348311,"structure_id":49959,"section_number":"15.2-3801","catch_line":"Referendum","url":"\/15.2-3801\/","token":"15.2\/III\/38\/15.2-3801","metadata":{"court_decisions":""}},{"id":348312,"structure_id":49959,"section_number":"15.2-3802","catch_line":"Town and county agreement concerning proposed city","url":"\/15.2-3802\/","token":"15.2\/III\/38\/15.2-3802","metadata":{"court_decisions":""}},{"id":348313,"structure_id":49959,"section_number":"15.2-3803","catch_line":"Notice of motion; service and publication; answer or other pleading","url":"\/15.2-3803\/","token":"15.2\/III\/38\/15.2-3803","metadata":{"court_decisions":""}},{"id":348314,"structure_id":49959,"section_number":"15.2-3804","catch_line":"Parties","url":"\/15.2-3804\/","token":"15.2\/III\/38\/15.2-3804","metadata":{"court_decisions":""}},{"id":348315,"structure_id":49959,"section_number":"15.2-3805","catch_line":"Time limit for intervenors; publication of order","url":"\/15.2-3805\/","token":"15.2\/III\/38\/15.2-3805","metadata":{"court_decisions":""}},{"id":348316,"structure_id":49959,"section_number":"15.2-3806","catch_line":"Pretrial conference; matters considered","url":"\/15.2-3806\/","token":"15.2\/III\/38\/15.2-3806","metadata":false},{"id":348317,"structure_id":49959,"section_number":"15.2-3807","catch_line":"Hearing and decision by court","url":"\/15.2-3807\/","token":"15.2\/III\/38\/15.2-3807","metadata":false},{"id":348318,"structure_id":49959,"section_number":"15.2-3808","catch_line":"Assistance of state agencies","url":"\/15.2-3808\/","token":"15.2\/III\/38\/15.2-3808","metadata":false},{"id":348319,"structure_id":49959,"section_number":"15.2-3809","catch_line":"Appeals","url":"\/15.2-3809\/","token":"15.2\/III\/38\/15.2-3809","metadata":{"court_decisions":""}},{"id":348320,"structure_id":49959,"section_number":"15.2-3810","catch_line":"Declining of grant of city status","url":"\/15.2-3810\/","token":"15.2\/III\/38\/15.2-3810","metadata":false},{"id":348321,"structure_id":49959,"section_number":"15.2-3811","catch_line":"Proceeding final for three years","url":"\/15.2-3811\/","token":"15.2\/III\/38\/15.2-3811","metadata":false},{"id":348322,"structure_id":49959,"section_number":"15.2-3812","catch_line":"Effect when town becomes city","url":"\/15.2-3812\/","token":"15.2\/III\/38\/15.2-3812","metadata":{"court_decisions":""}},{"id":348323,"structure_id":49959,"section_number":"15.2-3813","catch_line":"Town liabilities and assets","url":"\/15.2-3813\/","token":"15.2\/III\/38\/15.2-3813","metadata":false},{"id":348324,"structure_id":49959,"section_number":"15.2-3814","catch_line":"Mayor of town to continue in office","url":"\/15.2-3814\/","token":"15.2\/III\/38\/15.2-3814","metadata":{"court_decisions":""}},{"id":348325,"structure_id":49959,"section_number":"15.2-3815","catch_line":"Council of town to continue in office; additional members","url":"\/15.2-3815\/","token":"15.2\/III\/38\/15.2-3815","metadata":{"court_decisions":""}},{"id":348326,"structure_id":49959,"section_number":"15.2-3816","catch_line":"Town treasurer to continue in office; appointment where town had no treasurer","url":"\/15.2-3816\/","token":"15.2\/III\/38\/15.2-3816","metadata":false},{"id":348327,"structure_id":49959,"section_number":"15.2-3817","catch_line":"Commissioner of revenue or assessor to continue in office; appointment where town had no commissioner or assessor","url":"\/15.2-3817\/","token":"15.2\/III\/38\/15.2-3817","metadata":false},{"id":348328,"structure_id":49959,"section_number":"15.2-3818","catch_line":"Town sergeant to continue in office","url":"\/15.2-3818\/","token":"15.2\/III\/38\/15.2-3818","metadata":{"court_decisions":""}},{"id":348329,"structure_id":49959,"section_number":"15.2-3819","catch_line":"Election and terms of office of mayor and councilmen after town becomes city","url":"\/15.2-3819\/","token":"15.2\/III\/38\/15.2-3819","metadata":{"court_decisions":""}},{"id":348330,"structure_id":49959,"section_number":"15.2-3820","catch_line":"Election and terms of other city officers","url":"\/15.2-3820\/","token":"15.2\/III\/38\/15.2-3820","metadata":{"court_decisions":""}},{"id":348331,"structure_id":49959,"section_number":"15.2-3821","catch_line":"Qualification of officers; vacancies","url":"\/15.2-3821\/","token":"15.2\/III\/38\/15.2-3821","metadata":false},{"id":348332,"structure_id":49959,"section_number":"15.2-3822","catch_line":"Sharing of offices; transfer of jurisdiction","url":"\/15.2-3822\/","token":"15.2\/III\/38\/15.2-3822","metadata":{"court_decisions":{"0":{"name":"City of Emporia v. County of Greensville","case_number":"0792232","citation":null,"date":"2024-06-11","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/9528558\/city-of-emporia-v-county-of-greensville\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. COURT OF APPEALS OF VIRGINIA .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"<abbr title=\"Court of Appeals\">COA<\/abbr>"}}}},{"id":348333,"structure_id":49959,"section_number":"15.2-3823","catch_line":"Tenure and reelection of county officer whose homesite becomes part of city","url":"\/15.2-3823\/","token":"15.2\/III\/38\/15.2-3823","metadata":{"court_decisions":""}},{"id":348334,"structure_id":49959,"section_number":"15.2-3824","catch_line":"Town officers","url":"\/15.2-3824\/","token":"15.2\/III\/38\/15.2-3824","metadata":{"court_decisions":""}},{"id":348335,"structure_id":49959,"section_number":"15.2-3825","catch_line":"Courts","url":"\/15.2-3825\/","token":"15.2\/III\/38\/15.2-3825","metadata":false},{"id":348336,"structure_id":49959,"section_number":"15.2-3826","catch_line":"Appointment of electoral board, sheriff, attorney for the Commonwealth and circuit court clerk","url":"\/15.2-3826\/","token":"15.2\/III\/38\/15.2-3826","metadata":{"court_decisions":""}},{"id":348337,"structure_id":49959,"section_number":"15.2-3827","catch_line":"Transfer of assessments to city books","url":"\/15.2-3827\/","token":"15.2\/III\/38\/15.2-3827","metadata":false},{"id":348338,"structure_id":49959,"section_number":"15.2-3828","catch_line":"State, county and district taxes accruing before transition; county sales and use tax becomes city sales and use tax","url":"\/15.2-3828\/","token":"15.2\/III\/38\/15.2-3828","metadata":false},{"id":348339,"structure_id":49959,"section_number":"15.2-3829","catch_line":"Assumption of debt; adjustment","url":"\/15.2-3829\/","token":"15.2\/III\/38\/15.2-3829","metadata":{"court_decisions":""}},{"id":348340,"structure_id":49959,"section_number":"15.2-3830","catch_line":"Certain costs and expenses to be apportioned between city and county","url":"\/15.2-3830\/","token":"15.2\/III\/38\/15.2-3830","metadata":false},{"id":348341,"structure_id":49959,"section_number":"15.2-3831","catch_line":"Registrars and their duties","url":"\/15.2-3831\/","token":"15.2\/III\/38\/15.2-3831","metadata":false},{"id":348342,"structure_id":49959,"section_number":"15.2-3832","catch_line":"Authority to city to provide by condemnation, etc., water, light, power and fuel","url":"\/15.2-3832\/","token":"15.2\/III\/38\/15.2-3832","metadata":false},{"id":348343,"structure_id":49959,"section_number":"15.2-3833","catch_line":"Chapter not applicable to cities already existing","url":"\/15.2-3833\/","token":"15.2\/III\/38\/15.2-3833","metadata":false},{"id":348344,"structure_id":49959,"section_number":"15.2-3834","catch_line":"Congressional, etc., districts and judicial circuit not changed","url":"\/15.2-3834\/","token":"15.2\/III\/38\/15.2-3834","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":348319,"structure_id":49959,"section_number":"15.2-3809","catch_line":"Appeals","url":"\/15.2-3809\/","token":"15.2\/III\/38\/15.2-3809","metadata":{"court_decisions":""}},"next_section":{"id":348321,"structure_id":49959,"section_number":"15.2-3811","catch_line":"Proceeding final for three years","url":"\/15.2-3811\/","token":"15.2\/III\/38\/15.2-3811","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/15.2-3810\/","history_text":"<p>This law was first created in 1979. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 85 of that year\u2019s edition of \u201cActs of Assembly,\u201d the annual state publication listing all changes made to the Code of Virginia in that year. Unfortunately, the 1979 \u201cActs\u201d aren\u2019t available online. It has been modified 1 time. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. That modification is as follows: in 1997, chapter <a href=\"https:\/\/legacylis.virginia.gov\/cgi-bin\/legp604.exe?971+ful+CHAP0587\">587<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":348321,"section_number":"15.2-3811","catch_line":"Proceeding final for three years","order_by":null,"url":"\/15.2-3811\/"}],"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":1384601,"object_type":"law","relational_id":348320,"identifier":"15.2-3810","token":"15.2\/III\/38\/15.2-3810","url":"\/15.2-3810\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/15.2-3810\/","token":"15.2\/III\/38\/15.2-3810","dublin_core":{"Title":"Declining of grant of city status","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 15.2-3810","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section><p>In any proceeding brought under this chapter, the <span class=\"dictionary\">town<\/span> <span class=\"dictionary\">council<\/span> may, by <span class=\"dictionary\">ordinance<\/span> or resolution, decline to accept <span class=\"dictionary\">city<\/span> status on the terms and conditions imposed by the <span class=\"dictionary\">court<\/span> at any time prior to twenty-one days after final adjudication establishing <span class=\"dictionary\">city<\/span> status. In such case the <span class=\"dictionary\">court<\/span> shall apportion the total costs, taking into consideration the extent to which <span class=\"dictionary\">county<\/span> revenues are derived from within the <span class=\"dictionary\">town<\/span>, the relative financial abilities of the parties, and the relative merits of the case.<\/p><\/section>","plain_text":"                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nDECLINING OF GRANT OF CITY STATUS (\u00a7 15.2-3810)\n\nIn any proceeding brought under this chapter, the town council may, by ordinance\nor resolution, decline to accept city status on the terms and conditions imposed\nby the court at any time prior to twenty-one days after final adjudication\nestablishing city status. In such case the court shall apportion the total\ncosts, taking into consideration the extent to which county revenues are derived\nfrom within the town, the relative financial abilities of the parties, and the\nrelative merits of the case.\n\nHISTORY: 1979, c. 85, \u00a7 15.1-982.11; 1997, c. 587.","edition":{"id":2,"name":"2026","slug":"2026","date_created":"2026-07-16 18:40:23","date_modified":"2026-08-02 15:14:36","current":1,"order_by":2,"last_import":"2026-08-02 12:37:30"}}